In an announcement that is sending shockwaves through the mining industry, a report from medical experts investigating rates of Black Lung disease amongst Australian miners has revealed the problem is much worse than anticipated.

The first comprehensive review into a sample of 248 miner x-rays and health records has revealed that 18 cases have returned results showing Black Lung disease - in addition to the existing 11 cases that have been confirmed by the Queensland government.

The CFMEU is escalating their campaign for more action against illegal importation of asbestos after the discovery of the cancer causing substance on a major Brisbane project on the weekend.

The union is calling on all state governments to obtain information from Yuanda about products that the company has supplied on state government projects including two children’s hospitals in Perth and Adelaide.

CFMEU National Secretary Michael O’Connor is also writing to Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton demanding action from the government.

The CFMEU has issued a national alert on Yuanda and called for an urgent meeting with the building supply company, following the discovery of asbestos material being used on a site in the Brisbane CBD.

CFMEU National Secretary Michael O’Connor said it was totally unacceptable that workers have been exposed to the gasket material, imported from China, without any knowledge that it contained asbestos.

“We all know how serious the issue of exposure to asbestos is,” he said.

The plummeting of apprenticeship numbers that has occurred under the Liberal Government’s watch since 2013, are set to worsen if Malcolm Turnbull is elected according to CFMEU National Secretary, Michael O’Connor.

Referring to new data released by the Department of Education and Training and reported in the Fairfax press today, Mr O’Connor said the crisis in skilled jobs and opportunities for young Australians, combined with the growth in overseas visa workers characterised the utter neglect of young people by the Liberal Government.

Just before reading the CT Letters to the editor on Monday, I had a brief telephone conversation with my husband, who is working on a building site. He had been awake since 5am and on-site since 6am. When I spoke to him at 1.30pm, he had been flat out all day doing incredibly hard physical work with no rest breaks or food. Someone had offered to get him a coffee but never did.

The CFMEU have called on Mr Hadgkiss to resign as director of the Fair Work Building Commission (FWBC) and seek pre-selection for the Liberal Party, following his address to the AiG yesterday while the government is in election mode.

National CFMEU Construction Secretary Dave Noonan said the behaviour of Mr Hadgkiss was extraordinarily inappropriate for a head of government regulator.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union today joined workers and their families from the Bendigo Hospital Project as they converged on the headquarters of Australia’s largest construction company Lend Lease to demand unpaid wages.